If you are concerned about child social development in your youngster, watch for the behaviors, such as tantrums in children, that signal serious adjustment problems. At all child development stages, use these 7 questions as a guide for evaluating your child’s social adjustment. If your answer is yes to question number one and yes to one other question, thoroughly discuss your child’s behavior with a mental health professional.
- Has the problem continued for at least 6 months? Do you hear from teachers, youth advisors and other adults that your child doesn’t fit in?
- Does your child repeatedly fight, argue, and violate the basic rights of others?
- Do temper tantrums continue, and is disobedience an issue at home and school?
- Are your child’s poor social skills obvious when he or she participates in sports or social events?
- Is your child uncooperative and labeled a trouble maker?
- Do words such as moody and low self-esteem describe your child?
- Do you think peer pressure is forcing your child to use drugs or alcohol?